Hockey Ad Network

Sunday, January 15, 2012

SUDBURY – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League released the following statement Thursday in regard to the ownership situation pertaining to the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils:

The NOJHL does confirm the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils franchise is currently in a state of ownership transition.

While former team owner and general manager Bob Kasner announced his intentions to cease operations of the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils, NOJHL Commissioner Robert Mazzuca is actively working on an agreement that will see a new community-run ownership group take over the day-to-day operation of the club moving forward.

Commissioner Mazzuca is presently overseeing the ownership transition to a community-based group that is looking to oversee the day-to-day operations by setting up a Community Group Board of Directors that will endeavour to keep junior hockey and the NOJHL in Kirkland Lake for many years to come.

"We are working hard to make sure this is a seamless transition and good for the long term for the Kirkland Lake community, our fans and the NOJHL, but it will take a few days," says Mazzuca.

Any potential ownership change will require the approval of the NOJHL’s Board of Directors along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association Board of Directors.

With this in mind, the NOJHL is hereby postponing the Blue Devils next two scheduled games vs. Abitibi and North Bay Friday and Saturday respectively with the plan being to re-schedule those games at a later date once the Kirkland Lake ownership situation is resolved.

The NOJHL will provide further details on this matter when they become available.